Five 85-watt-per-channel amplifiers with high-performance digital power supply

The AVR 161S high-performance audio/video receiver pumps out 85 watts per channel to power a full five-channel, networked surround-sound system. It can also connect to a powered subwoofer to provide enhanced low-frequency performance for all your entertainment. While the amplifiers retain the time-tested Harman Kardon® high-current capacity (HCC) ultrawide-bandwidth design to ensure the most accurate, dynamic sound with enhanced clarity and realism – even at the highest listening levels, a digitally based power supply gives the amplifiers all the wattage they need without the weight of traditional power-supply designs and their heavy transformers. The net result is a great-sounding AVR in a small form that is friendly to the environment.

Bluetooth technology

The AVR 161S can stream audio from virtually any portable device. You can connect an Apple device, such as an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, directly to the front-panel USB jack and playback without the need for an external adapter. For other tablets, smartphones and laptops, you can take advantage of the AVR 161S’s integrated HARMAN TrueStream Bluetooth technology.

HARMAN TrueStream technology

The HARMAN TrueStream guarantee ensures the best possible listening experience when you stream audio wirelessly via Bluetooth technology. HARMAN TrueStream tech delivers the most current, most advanced wireless option to ensure the highest-quality sound, no matter what application or source device you use.

More ways to connect

The AVR 161S features vTuner Internet radio to connect you to a whole world of online audio entertainment. As soon as it’s out of the box, you can stream over-the-air radio stations from around the globe as well as stream from a wide range of Internet-only radio stations. The AVR 161S also features Spotify Connect, which allows you to stream music directly from your Spotify premium account on your phone, tablet or computer.

Five 3D-ready HDMI inputs, including one with MHL

Five HDMI 2.0 inputs with 3D and 30/36-bit Deep Color deliver high-definition digital video at resolutions up to 1080p with full-fidelity audio through a single cable. There is no loss of video or audio quality because of format conversion, just full-impact Hollywood excitement as its creators meant you to experience it.

The AVR 161S gives you multiple options for audio playback with its front-panel USB port. Simply connect an iPhone, iPad, iPod or USB stick to play your stored tracks through your home entertainment system.

Five 85-watt-per-channel amplifiers with high-performance digital power supply

The AVR 161S high-performance audio/video receiver pumps out 85 watts per channel to power a full five-channel, networked surround-sound system. It can also connect to a powered subwoofer to provide enhanced low-frequency performance for all your entertainment. While the amplifiers retain the time-tested Harman Kardon® high-current capacity (HCC) ultrawide-bandwidth design to ensure the most accurate, dynamic sound with enhanced clarity and realism – even at the highest listening levels, a digitally based power supply gives the amplifiers all the wattage they need without the weight of traditional power-supply designs and their heavy transformers. The net result is a great-sounding AVR in a small form that is friendly to the environment.

Bluetooth technology

The AVR 161S can stream audio from virtually any portable device. You can connect an Apple device, such as an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, directly to the front-panel USB jack and playback without the need for an external adapter. For other tablets, smartphones and laptops, you can take advantage of the AVR 161S’s integrated HARMAN TrueStream Bluetooth technology.

HARMAN TrueStream technology

The HARMAN TrueStream guarantee ensures the best possible listening experience when you stream audio wirelessly via Bluetooth technology. HARMAN TrueStream tech delivers the most current, most advanced wireless option to ensure the highest-quality sound, no matter what application or source device you use.

More ways to connect

The AVR 161S features vTuner Internet radio to connect you to a whole world of online audio entertainment. As soon as it’s out of the box, you can stream over-the-air radio stations from around the globe as well as stream from a wide range of Internet-only radio stations. The AVR 161S also features Spotify Connect, which allows you to stream music directly from your Spotify premium account on your phone, tablet or computer.

Five 3D-ready HDMI inputs, including one with MHL

Five HDMI 2.0 inputs with 3D and 30/36-bit Deep Color deliver high-definition digital video at resolutions up to 1080p with full-fidelity audio through a single cable. There is no loss of video or audio quality because of format conversion, just full-impact Hollywood excitement as its creators meant you to experience it.

The AVR 161S gives you multiple options for audio playback with its front-panel USB port. Simply connect an iPhone, iPad, iPod or USB stick to play your stored tracks through your home entertainment system.

This 425-watt, high-performance, 5.1-channel A/V receiver gives you more ways to connect to your favorite music, movies and shows.
There are countless ways to access and store your favorite media, from external hard drives to set-top cable boxes to smartphones. But if your home audio/video receiver doesn’t give you options for connecting to those media, it’s borderline useless. The Harman Kardon® AVR 161S gives you a simple way to connect to everything you love. This 425-watt, 5.1-channel, networked audio/video receiver is loaded with options that let you access your media. It features five 3D-ready HDMI® 2.0 inputs, including one compatible with MHL, so you’ll have more than enough ways to access content on your HD cable box, Blu-ray™ player, MHL-equipped portable devices.
It also includes Spotify Connect and HARMAN TrueStream Bluetooth® technology so you can stream high-fidelity audio from your mobile devices. Regarding sound, the AVR 161S features our exclusive Natural Sound Processing (NSP), which creates a rich, enveloping sound from any source – particularly with two-channel streaming content. And to get the very best sound based on your speakers and listening environment, its new EZSet/EQ™ III process automatically calibrates the system. And with HARMAN GreenEdge™ technology, the
AVR 161S Sis environmentally friendly, too.

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AVR 161S is rated
1.0 out of
5 by
1.

Rated 1 out of
5 by
sqmiler from
Poor build quality. Fake remote controller?Purchased this AV receiver a couple of months ago now. I'm going to use bullet points.
1. Receiver works fine. The sound output is great.
2. The build quality is poor. The buttons on the front of the receiver, are some touch sensitive whilst others require that a physical 'click' is felt? Perhaps some are broken, I can't tell?
3. The first remote control packed with the receiver did not work. It seemed that some buttons like the HOME key or the OPTIONS key do not work at all. Using my smart phone camera to see if any signal is even being sent by them remote proved negative.
4. I called HK and they agreed the original remote was not working. I was told to get in touch with a third party supplier, who initially wanted to charge me for the replacement until I gave them the SR#. I would have at least expected them to sort this out rather than leave me to chase up and explain why I needed a new RC yet again!
5. The new remote control has arrived and now this remote control is exactly the same as the first. It seems that the majority of the RC buttons are simply 'dummy' buttons and do not function at all. The 'PowerOn' button doesn't even work.
Over £400 spent on this device. I've never spent more than £100 on HK products before. Bought only because I wanted something 'low profile' for a specific purpose. I am no novice to AV receivers or amplifiers, I've owned many over the last 30 years and so far this is the worst product I've ever purchased in my time.
Not sure I'll ever buy an HK product again.
Message to HK - Happy to provide a more positive review if somehow you are able to improve the service and provide me with a working product.

i have connected two HDMI sources to the AVR and one analogue (VCR) unit. the output is HDMI to my digital TV.
i cannot get the picture from the VCR input from the HDMI input on the TV unless i use monitor out. WHY? won't the unit transcode A to D?

Asked by: al qarani

As your question requires troubleshooting by our Product Specialists, we invite you to contact the Harman Customer Support team by telephone, email or chat in order to receive direct assistance.
Please see https://www.harmankardon.co.uk/support-contact.html for further details.
Thank you.

Answered by: JuliaB

Date published: 2019-01-22

I connected a vinyl record player into &quot;analog 1 in&quot; But the volume it is very Low despite being at most
I do Not understand how I have to do some volume to make the vinyl record audible thanks

Asked by: Beta 451

Hi,
For most record players, you will need a pre-amp to connect between the record player and the analog inputs of an AVR or stereo receiver. These cost around &euro; 20--- at a retail store. This should solve that issue.

Answered by: Kay Harman

Date published: 2018-12-04

Hi, can I connect my pc from nvidia gtx 1070 through HDMI to this box and get the LPCM multichannel 5.1 audio to my surround speakers while passing the video to my TV?

Asked by: BAss666

Hi,
Theoretically yes, but with all things computer related, we are not able to support this in any way. There are too many variables when something doesn't work as it could, and this would require extensive knowledge about Windows, drivers, hardware etc. for troubleshooting in case needed.

Answered by: Kay Harman

Date published: 2018-11-22

Hi, I've completed all 5.1 speaker setup with EZ set with hkts30BQ and it was successful (with sound). However, i cannot seem to get any sound from any sort of input? No sound from USB with iPhone, or bluetooth, or tv ith ARC HDMI connections.

Asked by: john888

Hi,
If during the EZSet you do hear the speakers make sound, and not when playing from normal sources, there may be an issue with your receiver. This is very difficult to troubleshoot on our website, so we would like to advise you to contact our Customer Support for additional support.

Answered by: Kay Harman

Date published: 2018-11-19

Hi
I have harman kardon 161s. I am trying to connect to this AVR with my LG tv through HDMI ARC. I am not successful. LG tv has dedicated HDMI ARC port. I have connected the AVR output (ARC) with LG tv HDMI ARC IN port. But not working. Pls help

Asked by: Sathish

Hello, and thank you for supporting Harman Kardon!
There is no immediate reason why your AVR and you TV should not function together.
This may of course be a case of incompatibility, or there may be a cable problem, or settings may be wrong. Please note that the AVR is not a 4k device. It permits 4k passthrough, but only if you use material that is not HDCP 2.2 protected. This means that all commercial material cannot be shown as 4k. If you TV has been set to only accept 4k signal input, there will not be a picture with the AVR. You must select normal full HD (1080p) or automatic.
If you cannot get this to work, please contact our helpdesk, where real troubleshooting is much easier than here on Bazaarvoice. Contact info is at the bottom of the HK web shop pages, for instance for the UK.

Answered by: Bo HARMAN

Date published: 2018-11-16

With mine I connected everything correctly as far as I can tell. It&rsquo;s connected to my tv and AppleTV.&nbsp;The problem I&rsquo;m having is that the sound isn&rsquo;t all that great, in order to hear properly I have to set the volume to almost full and ARC doesnt work?

Asked by: Lorenco

Hi
Thank you for the question.
This doesn't sound right - I will suggest that you test you AVR using FM-radio with nothing but speakers connected to confirm that it is playing right. Then connect the TV and test ARC. and last the Apple TV.
if you experience problems durring these test please contact our help-desk so the problem can be troubleshooted and you AVR fixed if needed.

Answered by: Mogens

Date published: 2018-07-02

My receiver is not getting any power to it. Is there a fuse? What can I do?

Asked by: karen3

Hi
Thank you for your question
We are sorry to hear that you have problems with your AVR 161s. There is no fuse which can be changed by an end-user on this device, this should be done by a technician. I will advise you to contact your local help-desk who can help you with service-center information.

Answered by: Mogens

Date published: 2017-12-20

Can you screw in bare wires from existing equipment (speakers I think)

Asked by: Ange

Hi
Yes, you can connect speakercables either stripped ( bare ), or with bananaplugs on them.
If you require further assistance, please contact Customer Support, and we will gladly assist